Trajectory control mechanism for ball pitching machine

ABSTRACT

A ball-throwing machine having a throwing arm rigidly mounted on a rotatable shaft and a crank secured to the shaft for effecting a drive coupling provided with a force mechanism for acceleratedly driving the throwing arm through a portion of its path of travel to throw a ball. An elongated support structure is pivotally mounted with respect to the frame of the machine and supports the force mechanism for movement longitudinally of the structure. In this manner the line of force of tension spring means which comprises the mechanism is varied relative to the path of travel of the throwing arm. Thus, the point of application of the accelerative driving force, which is applied to the throwing arm as the latter reaches an overcenter position in its path of travel, is varied to alter the trajectory of a ball being thrown. A mounting component of the force mechanism has a locking element in the form of spring-biased detent means which is interengageable with a corresponding locking element in the form of a plurality of slots in the support structure. These cooperating elements are selectively interengageable to lock the spring means relative to the supporting frame of the machine. Springs bias the interengageable elements into their normal locking positions and a camming surface of the support structure is movable against the action of one of the springs to disengage the locking elements and permit swinging of the spring means longitudinally of the structure.

United States Patent Hunsicker I 15] 3,640,262 [45'] Feb. 8, 1972 [54]TRAJECTORY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR BALL PITCHING MACHINE [72] Inventor:Paul Robert Hunsicker, Kansas City, Kans.

[73] Assignee: Commercial Mechanisms, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.

[22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 64,315

52 us. c1. ..124/7, 124/36 511 Int. Cl ..F4lb3/04 [58] FieldoiSearch.... ,...124/7, 36, 41, 6; 273/96 R, 273/101, 26 1) [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,743 12/1957 Brunderman..124/7 3,136,308 6/1964 Giovagnoli.... .....124/7 3,252,453 5/1966Giovagno1i.... .....l24/7 3,420,218 1/1969 Rademacher.... .....124/7Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. BrowneAttomeySchmidt, Johnson, Hovey,Williams Kahelin ..124/7- [57] ABSTRACT Aball-throwing machine having a throwing arm rigidly mounted on arotatable shaft and a crank secured to the shaft for effecting a drivecoupling provided with a force mechanism for acceleratedly driving thethrowing arm through a portion of its path of travel to throw a ball. Anelongated support structure is pivotally mounted with respect to theframe' of the machine and supports the force mechanism for movementlongitudinally of the structure. In this manner the line of force oftension spring means which comprises the mechanism is varied relative tothe path of travel of the throwing arm. Thus, the point of applicationof the accelerative driving force, which is applied to the throwing armas the latter reaches an overcenter position in its path of travel, isvaried to alter the trajectory of a ball being thrown. A mountingcomponent of the force mechanism has a locking element in the form ofspring-biased detent means which is interengageable with a correspondinglocking element in the form of a plurality of slots in the supportstructure. These cooperating elements are selectively interengageable tolock the spring means relative to the supporting frame of the machine.Springs bias the interengageable elements into their normal lockingpositions and a carnming surface of the support structure is movableagainst the action of one of the springs to disengage the lockingelements and permit swinging of the spring means longitudinally of thestructure.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENIQR. Paul RobertHunslcker' flTTORNEYS.

TRAJECTORY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR BALL PITCI-IING MACHINE This inventionrelates to ball-throwing machines and, more particularly, to novel meansfor varying the trajectory of a ball thrown by a machine.

A shortcoming of prior ball-throwing machines both for baseballs andtennis balls has been the absence of satisfactory mechanisms for varyingthe trajectory of a ball being thrown. Prior devices have utilizedvarious types of mechanical linkages to alter the ball-trajectory but,in general, such devices have proved unreliable and difficult tomanipulate. This is a particular disadvantage when a machine is used bya professional athlete since such persons normally desire to vary theball trajectory at frequent intervals to challenge and improve theirskills.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aball-throwing machine having force mechanism which is movable to varythe trajectory of a ball thrown in a manner which can be effected by anattendant or a player in a quick and simple movement.

Another object of the invention is a ball-throwing machine having forcemechanism which utilizes an elongated support structure for mounting thespring means of the force mechanism and with the spring means beingmovable longitudinally of the structure to vary the line of forceapplied to the throwing arm and hence the trajectory of a thrown ball.

Still another object of the invention is a ball-throwing machine as setforth in the foregoing object wherein the force mechanism includesinterengageable elements for locking the spring means in any one of aplurality of positions relative to the support structure.

Yet another aim of the invention is a ball-throwing machine as set forthin the foregoing object wherein the support structure comprises a crankrod which is movable against the action of a retaining spring tounlock'the interengageable elements and thereby permit movement of thespring means relative to the mounting structure.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a force mechanism for aball-throwing machine which is movable to vary the line of applicationof the force and hence the trajectory of a thrown ball as set forth inthe foregoing objects, and which utilizes a bellcrank to couple thespring means of the mechanism to the throwing arm so as to maximize theefficiency, durability, and effectiveness of the force mechanism.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a ball-throwing machine employingthe accelerative driving force mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. Ifrom the opposite side of that shown in FIG. 1 and with portions beingbroken away;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view through the mountingcomponent which mounts the spring means of the force mechanism andillustrating the interengageable elements on the component and thesupport structure in their normal locking dispositions;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but with the crankarm which comprises the elongated support structure being rotated 90' tounlock the interengageable elements; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the end of the elongatedsupport structure which is secured to the frame of the machine andillustrating the manner in which the structure is biased into a lockingposition.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, itis seen that theball-throwing machine comprises a frame element 10 provided with aball-throwing structure 12, and an accelerative drive force mechanism14. The frame element 10 comprises a generally L-shaped tubularcomponent having a horizontal arm 16 and vertical arm I8. A third arm 20of rounded L configuration extends from one end of the arm I6 to theuppermost end of the arm 18. A tubular bar (not visible in FIG. 1) orother appropriate structure is rigid with and perpendicular to the arm16 to provide support for a shaft 22 extending in the same direction.The shaft 22 mounts a pair of wheels, one of which is visible in FIG. Iand designated by the numeral 24. A sleeve 26 at the end of the arm 16opposite the wheel 24 receives a caster wheel assembly 28. A bracket 30is welded or otherwise secured to the arm 16 at a point approximatelymidway between the ends of the latter, and the bracket extends upwardlyaway from the arm for purposes to be made clear hereinafter.

Referring now to the details of the throwing structure 12, a circularcup-shaped member 32 of C-shaped cross section (as best illustrated inFIG. 3) is secured to the frame element 10 by the aforementioned bracket30 and a second bracket 34 which is rigid with and extends downwardlyfrom the arm 20 as best illustrated in FIG. 4. A sleeve 36 extendsthrough an appropriate size opening in the member 32 and is rigid withthe latter as well as with the bracket 34. This sleeve supports a driveshaft 38 which projects outwardly on either side of the cup-shapedmember 32. The drive shaft 38 supports a drive sprocket 40 which isrotatably mounted relative to the shaft and a throwing arm 42 which isrigid with the shaft. The drive sprocket 40 has a protruding pin 44thereon which is disposed for engagement with a lug 46 carried by thearm 42. The drive mechanism for rotating the sprocket 40 and hence thearm 42 includes a conventional electric motor (not shown) having anoutput shaft 48 and a pulley 50 rigid with the latter. A second pulley52 is supported for rotation upon the member 32 and is coupled with thefirst pulley 50 by a belt 54. A second belt 56 couples the pulley 52with a third pulley 58 also rotatably mounted on the member 32. A drivechain 60 then couples the pulley 58 with the sprocket 40. A balldelivery mechanism 62 is mounted on the member 32 adjacent an opening 64in the latter and supplies balls to the arm 42 in a manner to beexplained more fully hereinafter.

The details of the drive force mechanism 14 are illustrated in FIGS. 3-7which will be referred to in the following detailed description. Thebracket 30 serves to mount an elongated support structure in the form ofa linear crank rod 66 on the frame element 10 by means of an L-shapedsupport 68 which is pivotally coupled with the bracket 30 by a bolt 70.The crank rod 66 is, in turn, rotatable within the L-shaped support 68.The crank rod 66 is of generally circular cross section and, as bestillustrated in FIG. 5, includes a slotted portion having a plurality ofprojections 72 which define a plurality of spaced slots therebetween andan arcuate surface 74 adjacent each of the slots. A torsional spring 76at the end of the rod 66 ad jacent the support 68, biases the rod 66into the disposition illustrated in FIG. 5 with the slot-definingprojections 72 facing upwardly. One end of the rod 66 presents a handle78 (FIG. I) for rotating the rod against the action of the spring 76.

A mounting component designated generally by the nu metal 80 in FIGS. 3and 4 serves to mount tension spring means 82 on the crank rod 66. Themounting component 80 includes a mounting block 84, a generallyhorizontal support member 86, and a generally perpendicular support arm88. The mounting block 84 has a passageway which extends from one end ofthe block to the other for slidably mounting the block on the rod 66. Avertical opening in the block 84 is threaded to receive a hollow bolt90. The bolt has an opening in the bottom thereof which communicateswith the longitudinally extending passageway in the block 84, and thebolt receives, within its hollow interior, a detent 92 which is biasedin the direction of the passageway by a coil spring 94. A retainingscrew 96 holds the detent 92 and the spring 94 within the bolt 90. Astudbolt 98, which is welded or otherwise secured to the mounting block84, forms a rigid, threaded projection on the latter. A sleeve I00 onthe bolt 98 provides a pivotal mounting for the tubular support member86 which is welded or otherwise secured to the sleeve. The support arm88 is rigid with the member 86 and is likewise rigid with a journalsleeve 102 which pivotally mounts the arm 88 on one end of i the shaft38. A tubular component 104 is rigid with the arm 88 and extendstransversely of the latter adjacent the member 86 to provide a journalsupport for a shaft 106.

A bellcrank comprised of a pair of spaced plates 108 which areinterconnected by a pair of bolts 110 and 112 is rigid with the shaft106. The member 86 is provided with a brace 114 which projects outwardlytherefrom, and the latter mounts a holding plate 116 for securing oneend of the spring means 82. The brace 114 is also provided with a handle118 which projects in the opposite direction to the spring means 82. Thespring means 82 is comprised of four tension springs 120, each havingone end secured to the holding plate 116, and an opposite end secured toa second holding plate 122. The holding plate 122 is, in turn, securedto a connecting link comprised of a pair of spaced plates 124 by apivotal connection 126. The plates 124 merge at one end into a journalcoupling through which the bolt 112 is passed to couple the plates 124to the plates 108. A plurality of slots along the upper surface of theplates 124 receives a pin 128 which extends transversely of the platesand is movable into different positions by a handle 130.

A crank 132 is keyed to the shaft 38 and extends radially therefrom forrotation therewith. The crank 132 is coupled with the bellcrankpresented by plates 108 through a cable 134 which extends around aportion of the crank 132 and also passes around an appropriate fittingwhich is journaled on the bolt 110 intermediate the plates 108.

in operation, the drive means of the machine is actuated to rotate theshaft 48 and bring the pin 44 into engagement with the lug 46 to therebyrotate the arm 42 in a clockwise direction when viewing FIG. 1 through afirst, arcuate, ball pickup portion of its circular path of travel aboutthe shaft 38. Simultaneously with the rotation of the arm 42 the crank132 is rotating through a first arcuate portion of its own circular pathof travel about the shaft 38, which path is parallel with the path ofthe arm 42. As the crank 132 rotates in a counter clockwise directionwhen viewing FIG. 2, a force is exerted on the crank by the tensionsprings 120. This force increases in magnitude as the crank 132 rotatesand reaches its maximum value as the crank passes an overcenterposition, in its circular path of travel, relative to the line of forceof the tension spring means 82. The arm 42 is so disposed on the shaft38 that it passes the ball delivery mechanism 62 prior to the crank 132reaching the aforementioned overcenter position. As the arm 42 rotatespast the mechanism 62, a ball to be thrown is delivered to the armthrough a conventional trip linkage. Once the crank 132 has reached itsovercenter position relative to the line of force of the spring means82, the potential energy which has been built up within the latter isreleased as kinetic energy acting upon the crank 132 to therebyacceleratively drive the arm 42 through a second arcuate portion of itspath of travel to thereby throw the ball previously deposited in thearm. The magnitude of the accelerative driving force is variable to acertain degree by moving the pin 128 relative to the plates 124 to, inturn, vary the angle at which the pin 128 engages the plates 108 as thelatter rotate on shaft 106 in response to rotation of the crank 132.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the trajectory of the ball beingthrown is dependent upon the point at which the ball is released fromthe arm 42 in the latters circular path of travel about the shaft 38.This point is, in turn, determined by the overcenter position of thecrank 132 relative to the line of force of the spring means 82 since itis at this overcenter position that the potential energy of the springmeans 82 is released into kinetic energy to acceleratively drive the arm42. The overcenter position is varied by moving the spring means 82longitudinally of the crank rod 66. Since the springs 76 and 94 nonnallybias the slotted portion of the rod 66 and the detent 92 intointerengagement to preclude relative movement of the rod and themounting block 84, the handle 78 is first turned to rotate the rod 66approximately 90. This brings the arcuate surface 74 into engagementwith the detent 92 and cams the latter upwardly against the action ofthe spring 94 as illustrated in FIG. 6. With the rod 66 maintained inthis position the block 84 is movable along the length of the rod intoany one of a plurality of positions. As the block 84 is moved along thelength of the rod 66 the latter is pivoted upwardly because of the rigidconnection formed by the support arm 88. Once the proper position of thespring means 82 along the length of the rod 66 is obtained, the latteris released to return it to its normal locking position under the actionof the spring 76. This allows the detent 92 to be positioned within anappropriate slot under the action of the spring 94. The spring means 82and its associated mounting component are illustrated in phantom in FIG.2 as they would appear after being moved longitudinally of the crank rod66 in the direction of the handle 78. Once the relative positioning ofthe rod 66 and the spring means 82 has been accomplished, the machine isagain ready for operation and the trajectory of a thrown ball will bevaried in accordance with the new overcenter position of the crank 132relative to the line of force of the tension spring means 82.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that theball-throwing machine of the present invention provides mechanism whichis operable by an attendant or a player to vary the trajectory of athrown ball quickly and accurately. Since the mechanism is alwaysreturned to its locking position once an adjustment has been made, thereis no danger of a careless operator leaving the apparatus in an unlockedposition which could result in injury to a person or damage to themachine.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ball-throwing machine:

a frame element;

a shaft rotatably mounted on said element;

a throwing arm rigidly mounted to the shaft;

a crank rigidly secured to the shaft and extending radially therefrom,said arm and said crank being disposed for travel through parallelcircular paths about the shaft;

drive means for driving said arm and said crank through a first arcuateportion of their respective paths of travel;

means for supplying a ball to said am during travel of the latterthrough said first portion of the circular path;

a pivoted elongated support structure mounted on said element;

a mounting component disposed on said structure and movable through anarc;

tension spring means carried by said component,

one end of said spring means being coupled to said crank for exerting aforce on the latter and acceleratively drive said arm through a secondarcuate portion of its respective path of travel to throw a ball aftersaid crank reaches an overcenter position on its path of travel aboutthe axis of the shaft said spring means being movably fixed in aplurality of radial positions about said shaft for varying the positionat which the throwing arm commences accelerative movement and thusvarying the point at which a ball leaves the path of travel of thethrowing arm, the trajectory of a ball being thrown being varied withrotation of said spring means; and

means for locking said component in any one of a plurality of radialpositions.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a bellcrank; meanspivotally mounting said bellcrank on said component intermediate saidone spring end and the first-mentioned crank, said one spring end beingcoupled to said bellcrank; and means for coupling said bell crank to thefirst-mentioned crank.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting componentincludes an arm pivotally mounted on said shaft, said support structurebeing pivotally mounted on said element.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said structure is linearand said component is pivotally mounted on said structure to permitswinging thereof as necessary during movement of the componentlongitudinally of the structure as the latter pivots relative to saidelement.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said locking meansincludes selectively interengageable elements between said component andsaid structure.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said interengageableelements include a slotted portion of said structure having a pluralityof projections defining spaced slots therebetween and a detent on saidcomponent disposed to be received in any one of the slots in saidportion depending upon the relative location of the component withrespect to the structure.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said slotted portion isnormally disposed in engagement with said detent and said structure isrotatable for disengaging said detent from the slotted portion; andincluding first spring means biasing said structure into said normaldisposition thereof, and second spring means biasing said detent intoengagement with said structure.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said structure includes anarcuate surface adjacent said slotted portion, said surface acting as acam to deflect said detent out of engagement with said slotted portionas said structure is rotated against the bias of the first spring means,

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said structure comprises acrank rod presenting a handle for effecting manual rotation thereof.

10. In a ball-throwing machine provided with a frame rotatably carryinga ball-throwing arm mounted on the frame for pivoting movement about afixed axis, structure operably associated with the arm for rotating thelatter through a first, ball pickup part of its arcuate path of travel,a spring unit pivotally mounted on the frame in spaced relationship fromsaid axis, and a crank arm assembly operably joining the spring unit tothe arm for acceleratively driving the latter through anotherball-throwing part of its arcuate path when the crank of said assemblymoves overcenter with respect to the line of pull thereon by said springunit, the improvement comprising:

an elongated locking member means for pivotally mounting the lockingmember on the frame, said frame being positioned adjacent said springunit; and a component pivotally joined to said spring unit and saidcomponent being slidably connected to the locking member said componentand said spring unit being pivoted in unison about the fixed axis, saidlocking member being provided with selectively operable, interengageablelocking mechanism permitting shifting of the component and therebypivoting of the spring unit and component to vary the overcenterposition of the crank arm when the locking member is in a selectedposition on said locking member and thereby fixedly securing thecomponent and the spring unit in a selected pivoted location relative tothe fixed axis.

1. In a ball-throwing machine: a frame element; a shaft rotatablymounted on said element; a throwing arm rigidly mounted to the shaft; acrank rigidly secured to the shaft and extending radially therefrom,said arm and said crank being disposed for travel through parallelcircular paths about the shaft; drive means for driving said arm andsaid crank through a first arcuate portion of their respective paths oftravel; means for supplying a ball to said arm during travel of thelatter through said first portion of the circular path; a pivotedelongated support structure mounted on said element; a mountingcomponent disposed on said structure and movable through an arc; tensionspring means carried by said component, one end of said spring meansbeing coupled to said crank for exerting a force on the latter andacceleratively drive said arm through a second arcuate portion of itsrespective path of travel to throw a ball after said crank reaches anovercenter position on its path of travel about the axis of the shaftsaid spring means being movably fixed in a plurality of radial positionsabout said shaft for varying the position at which the throwing armcommences accelerative movement and thus varying the point at which aball leaves the path of travel of the throwing arm, the trajectory of aball being thrown being varied with rotation of said spring means; andmeans for locking said component in any one of a plurality of radialpositions.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a bellcrank;means pivotally mounting said bellcrank on said component intermediatesaid one spring end and the first-mentioned crank, said one spring endbeing coupled to said bellcrank; and means for coupling said bell crankto the first-mentioned crank.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein said mounting component includes an arm pivotally mounted onsaid shaft, said support structure being pivotally mounted on saidelement.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said structure islinear and said component is pivotally mounted on said structure topermit swinging thereof as necessary during movement of the componentlongitudinally of the structure as the latter pivots relative to saidelement.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said lockingmeans includes selectively interengageable elements between saidcomponent and said structure.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5,wherein said interengageable elements include a slotted portion of saidstructure having a plurality of projections defining spaced slotstherebetween and a detent on said component disposed to be received inany one of the slots in said portion depending upon the relativelocation of the component with respect to the structure.
 7. Apparatus asset forth in claim 5, wherein said slotted portion is normally disposedin engagement with said detent and said structure is rotatable fordisengaging said detent from the slotted portion; and including firstspring means biasing said structure into said normal dispositionthereof, and second spring means biasing said detent into engagementwith said structure.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein saidstructure includes an arcuate surface adjacent said slotted portion,said surface acting as a cam to deflect said detent out of engagementwith said slotted portion as said structure is rotated against the biasof the fIrst spring means.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, whereinsaid structure comprises a crank rod presenting a handle for effectingmanual rotation thereof.
 10. In a ball-throwing machine provided with aframe rotatably carrying a ball-throwing arm mounted on the frame forpivoting movement about a fixed axis, structure operably associated withthe arm for rotating the latter through a first, ball pickup part of itsarcuate path of travel, a spring unit pivotally mounted on the frame inspaced relationship from said axis, and a crank arm assembly operablyjoining the spring unit to the arm for acceleratively driving the latterthrough another ball-throwing part of its arcuate path when the crank ofsaid assembly moves overcenter with respect to the line of pull thereonby said spring unit, the improvement comprising: an elongated lockingmember means for pivotally mounting the locking member on the frame,said frame being positioned adjacent said spring unit; and a componentpivotally joined to said spring unit and said component being slidablyconnected to the locking member said component and said spring unitbeing pivoted in unison about the fixed axis, said locking member beingprovided with selectively operable, interengageable locking mechanismpermitting shifting of the component and thereby pivoting of the springunit and component to vary the overcenter position of the crank arm whenthe locking member is in a selected position on said locking member andthereby fixedly securing the component and the spring unit in a selectedpivoted location relative to the fixed axis.